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- John is of Hingham, Mass. John LEAVITT Deacon was born in 1608 in Enfield, Middlesex Co.,England.Or Beverly, Yorkshire, England. He signed a will on 30 Nov 1689 in MA. Hedied on 20 Nov 1691 in Hingham, Plymouth Co., MA. A tailor by trade.Became a farmer and landowner. Came to MA in 1628-1630 at age 19. Livedfirst in Dorchester. Established in Hingham by 1634. Records say Johnwent to Dover, and Exeter, N. H. for a time. His Master took away hisestate in 1634-5. His interest in these towns and the fact that his sonssettled here later may come from his marriage to Thomas' sister. FirstChurch Dorchester r-s: 'Mary Lovett a member before 1639' (3 yrs. aftershe m. John). Perhaps Mary was not a Lovet until after her marriage toJohn and an error was simply repeated time after time. 'The ColonialAncestor' says 'he m.. first Mary Lovitt.' (There was a family of Lovetat Salem, Mass. about 1630. See Hist. of Salem.) John m. 2nd Gilman, dau.of Edward and Mary (clark) Gilman who were the first by this name toarrive in America. (See Gilman Gen. Herein.) They m 16 Dec. 1646. She wasb. 19 Jan. 1622 at Caston, Eng. d. 26 May 1700. (Gen. of Me. vol. 2. p.1020 reads: 'Sara, wife of Dea. John Leavitt was bpt. 26 Dec. 1617.' Thisis exact date of b. of her brother, Edward.) (Col. Anc. says she was b.19 July 1622). Some doubt that John m the dau. of Edward Gilman. Bell'sHist. of Exeter, N.H. states: 'John Leavitt, son-in-law of Edward Gilman,of Hingham, Mass., received a grant of land in Exeter, N. H. 8 July1652.' Savage says: 'John Leavitt went to Exeter, N. H. of Dover, N. H.in 1645.' (See gilman Gen. herein). John was declared a freeman 15 Dec.1636 meaning a church member. Only freemen could hold office or vote forrules. He was a town officer and from 1658 to 1664 was a deputy. He was aDeacon of the church. '3 May 1680 Deacon John was one of those men, who,in Town Meeting, declared themselves by word, to have the new MeetingHouse set up in the place where the old one stood.' John was arepresentative to the General Court in 1656 and again in 1664. Selectmanin yrs. of 1661, 63, 65, 68 72, 74, and 75. He was frequently employed intown business. He was a Magistrate which meant a member of the Governor'sCouncil. The frame house on Leavitt Street, Hingham, Mass. hisdescendants say was built in 1712. The cellar stairs came from John's logcabin, made from squared logs split edgewise making two stairs from onelog. It is said to be on the same site as his cabin. Family legend saysthis house now standing was built by two of his grandsons. There were buttwo who would be likely to have built it, sons of Israel and Josiah.While both families had sons old enough to have built it, only tworemained upon the old home place, Elisha and John, sons of Israel.Tradition also says two brothers built the house and lived in it alltheir days. Hezekiah lived on part of the estate but there is nothing toprove he lived in the old home. John's will states Josiah owned his ownhouse on john's land. Hingham History says Elisha raised his family inthe old home. John lived on Leavitt St. and all of his children were bornthere. Descendants of John (4-3) were also raised in the old home. TheHistory says he lived at ancestral home on Leavitt St. Sons of Elishalived on North St.Hingham. In the index of 'Ancestors Society of colonialWars' are mentioned these names: John Leavitt 1608-1691; Charles E.Adams; Lyman L. Brooks; Charles I. Cragin; Howard K. James; RichardLeavitt James; Phineas Hubbard; and Phillip Ashton Rollins.
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d. 26 May 1700, , Hingham, Plymouth County, Maine, USA